Play square game: 2 versions of dots or boxes to download & print
By Stephen M Elonka, Woman’s Day magazine – November 1950
Remember the game of “dots” or “boxes,” where you joined the dots to complete squares, and the person who made the most squares was the winner?
Play Square, a new version of that popular game, can be played by the whole family or by just one person. You start with a design already made for you.
There are even free moves — if you can find them. So grab your pencils, and Play Square!
Here are two Play Square games. Number 1 is much the easier; it is suggested for the children.
Group instructions for the play square game
The aim is to complete as many of the 144 squares as you can.
First, draw a line between two dots. If your line does not complete a square, it’s the next player’s turn.
If your line does complete a square, write your initial inside it. Then look for other squares you can complete with one line.
When you can’t find any more, draw a line for the next player, trying to place it so he can’t close a square with its help. When all squares are closed, the player with his initial in the most squares wins the game.
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Solo instructions
The aim is to complete the 144 squares with the lowest score given for the game.
First, draw a line between two dots. If your line does not complete a square, write the number 1 on the line. That is a score of one against you. If your line does complete a square, it’s “free” and should not be numbered.
Look for other places where one line will close a square. If your next line does not close a square, number it a 2. Try to place all lines not closing squares so they give you a “run” of as many free lines as possible.
When all squares are closed, the last line you made that did not close a square will be numbered with your final score for the game.
Solo scores: Play Square No. 1-24, excellent; 26, good; 29, fair.
Play Square No. 2-53, excellent; 55, good; 58, fair.
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